Rotatable roof structure



y 1968 E. OLSON 3,381,422

ROTATABLE ROOF STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 16, 1965 Weyfi United States Patent3,381,422 RUTATABLE RGUF STRUCTURE llrvin E. Olson, P30. iiox 1112,Ilainfield, Ill. 60544 Filed Sept. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 487,684 Claims.((11. 52-66) ABTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE A rotating mechanism for arotatable roof consisting of a track with substantially horizontallydisposed spaced slots therein, motor means pivotally secured adjacentsaid track to drive a sprocket gear which engages said slots via theweight of the motor to drive the roof.

This invention relates to an improvement in rotatable roof structuressuch as observatory domes.

In tracking a celestial object, it is necessary to align the domesshutter and the telescopic or other apparatus utilized. In the usualsituation the dome and the apparatus are generally independentlyrotated. Where automatic alignment is desired, some provision must bemade for keeping them aligned.

In the inordinately expensive observatories, the trade has resorted tocomplex driving arrangements to effect much automatic alignment. Wherecost is a factor a friction drive or clutch arrangement is usually used.A1- though this type of driving arrangement is usually satisfactory forobservatories where personnel are available to assure alignment, inobservatories which are remotely controlled, considerable difiiculty isencountered due to slippage. Some means is needed to eflect controlledrotation of the dome With the telescopic or other apparatus therein withfull knowledge in the operator as to just where the shutter is withrespect to said apparatus.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved observatory dome wherein such controlled rot-ation is possible.

Another object is to provide improved apparatus for rotating roofstructures, and in particular, observatory domes.

A further object is to provide apparatus of the above described type,which may be remotely controlled from distant locations.

A still further object is to provide apparatus for rotating observatorydomes from remote locations which is easily installed in existing domes,is relatively simple in construction and relatively inexpensive incomparison to existing similar apparatus.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

Briefly, the observatory dome of the invention is formed of a pluralityof arcuate sector-shaped sheet material sections which are adapted to beinterlocked by sliding action to form a hemispherical structure. Theentire dome is rotatably supported upon rollers which engage asemi-enclosed circular track arranged at the lower edge of the dome. Arack-like track is secured about the lower interior periphery of thedome, adjacent to the circular track. A sprocket wheel is adapted toengage the rack-like track, and is driven at a fixed speed by motormeans which is adapted to be remotely controlled. The same motor meanscan be used to rotatably drive the viewing appanatus so that the domesshutter and the viewing apparatus are always aligned or, alternatively,control means can be provided to assure alignment when they areindependently driven.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement 3,381,422 Patented May '7, I968of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter setforth, .and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of a roof structure, moreparticularly an observatory dome, wherein apparatus of the presentinvention can advantageously be used to rotate it.

FIGURE 2 is a partial perspective view of the supporting structure forrotatably supporting the roof structure of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial top plan view of the driving arrangement of thepresent invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a partial side plan view of the driving arrangement ofFIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawing, in FIGURE 1 there is shown an observatorydome Ill which is hemispherical in shape and forms the roof portion of apartially shown building 12 of generally cylindrical form and having adoor 14. The dome Ill may be formed from a plurality of arcuatesector-shaped sheet metal sections 16, the edges of which are adapted toprovide an interlocking fit. Such a roof structure may in general be ofthe type disclosed in United States Patent 2,769,409, issued to WalterRutten, on Nov. 6, 1956. A door 18, or shutter, is affixed to the domeIt and is adapted to be opened to permit scanning by the viewingapparatus (not shown) on closed within the dome. In this respect, thedoor 18 may be afiixed to the dome Ill and operated in the mannerdisclosed in United States patent application, er. No. 130,068, filedAug. 8, 1961, by Irwin E. Olson, now Patent No. 3,213,571.

A dome support angle Ztl (FIGURE 2), which is L- shaped, is arrangedabout the lower perimeter of the dome It). A dome track member '22 whichis also L- shaped is secured along its lower leg to the support angle20. Its other leg is bent over to provide a track 24 which engagesrollers 26. With this construction, the dome It] is supported for easyrotation by the rollers 26 and is also prevented from movement off ofthe rollers because of the roller enclosing configuration of the trackmember 22. Brake means (not shown) may be provided to lock the dome inany rotary position. The rollers 26 are ailixed to dome supportingassemblies 25 which are, in turn, spaced about the perimeter of the domeIt) and secured to a channel plate 24. The channel plate as extendsabout and is secured to the upper edge of the building 12.

Supported upon and afixed to the upper edge of the dome track member 22is a track 2% having spaced slots 30 therein. The track 28 extendscompletely around the interior perimeter of the dome Iii. A sprocketgear 32 having teeth 34 thereon is positioned so that the teeth 34engage the slots 39 in the track 28. The sprocket gear 32 is aifixed tothe end of a shaft 33 which extends from a gear box 35. The gear box 35is, in turn, affixed to and the gears therein are driven by a constantspeed motor The motor 36 is aflixed to a supporting assembly 35ineluding a base plate 39 which is secured to the upper edge of thebuilding 12 and a mounting plate til which is pivotally secured by meansof the brackets ll and pivot pins 42 to the base plate 39. With thisconstitution, it can be observed that the weight of the motor 36maintains the teeth 34 of the sprocket gear 32 engaged within the slots30 in the track '28. The sprocket gear 32 and the track 28 provide apositive driving arrangement for the dome Ill as opposed to a frictionaldrive or clutch arrangement.

The number of teeth 34 on the sprocket gear 32 and the number andspacing of the slots 30 in the track 28 are preferably such that thedome 10 will be rotated a predetermined number of degrees for eachrevolution of the motor 36. This will, of course, also be dependent uponthe gear ratio of the gear box 35. The number of teeth and slots, aswell as the gear ratio required, to rotate the dome 10 at any particularrotational speed, is easily determined by any one skilled in the art,once the speed of the constant speed motor 36 is known.

The rotational speed of the dome 10 can first be established, in theabove described manner, and the rotational speed of the scanningapparatus made to correspond with it, or vice versa. For example, aseparate constant speed motor can be provided to rotate the scanningapparatus, and its associated driving mechanism geared to rovide thesame rotational speed. When the two motors are simultaneously energized,both the dome 10 and the scanning apparatus will be rotated, inalignment. Alternatively, the shaft 33 can be extended and gear means orthe like alfixed to it for rotating the scanning apparatus at the sametime and rate. Still another arrangement would be to provide electricalcircuitry which would control the openation of two motors, to maintainthe dome and the scanning apparatus in alignment. It can be seen thatnumerous other simple driving arrangements also can be used since thedrive for the dome is positive in operation.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are erliciently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction Withoutdeparting irom the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative (and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A roof structure comprising supporting means along its base adaptedto allow rotary movement of said roof structure; a track having aplurality of substantially horizontally disposed spaced slots formedtherein .afiixed to said roof structure about its base; drive meanspivotally supported adjacent said track; and gear means adapted toengage in said spaced slots and driven by said drive means whereby theweight of said drive means causes continued engagement of said gearmeans with said spaced slots.

2. A roof structure comprising supporting means along 4 its base adaptedto allow rotary movement of said roof structure; a track having aplurality of substantially horizontally disposed spaced slots formedtherein affixed to said roof structure about its base; drive meanspivotally supported adjacent said track; and gear means adapted toengage in said spaced slots and driven by said drive means, the pivotalmounting on said drive means functioning to maintain said gear meansengaged with said slots.

3. A roof structure comprising supporting means along its base adaptedto allow rotary movement of said roof structure; a track having aplurality of substantially horizontally disposed spaced slots formedtherein affixed to said roof structure about its base; a drive assemblysecured adjacent said track including a base member, a support memberpivotally secured to said base member at its one end, drive meanssecured to said support means and gear means adapted to engage in saidspaced slots and driven by said drive means whereby the weight of saiddrive means causes continued engagement of said gear means with saidspaced slots.

4. A roof structure comprising supporting means along its base adaptedto allow rotary movement of said roof structure; a track having aplurality of substantially horizontally disposed spaced slots formedtherein afiixed to said roof structure about its base; a drive assemblysecured adjacent said track including a base member, a support memberpivotally secured to said base member at its one end, drive meanssecured to said support means and gear means adapted to engage in saidspaced slots and driven by said drive means, the pivotal mounting onsaid drive means functioning to maintain said gear means engaged withsaid slots.

5. A roof structure, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said drive means isa constant speed motor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 535,990 3/1895 Lowe 52-811,150,119 8/1915 Hoskins 52-65 X 2,846,962 8/1958 Morgan 52-65 2,996,8448/1961 Paulson 52-65 3,213,571 10/1965 Olson 52-66 3,271,901 9/1966Bednar 49-18 X 3,015,249 1/1962 Taylor 350-26 XR 3,229,414 1/1966 Bross46-67 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 618,268 2/1961 Italy.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

P. C. FAW, Assistant Examiner.

